Muntinlupa City has just upped its environmental standards with respect to the use of electric vehicles for mass transport operations. To date, it already has 14 electric jeepneys plying different routes in the city. And this number is expected to grow.

Muntinlupa City is one of the early movers in the LGU field in the eco-friendly electric vehicle movement. It was one of the very first cities which utilized E-Jeepneys for mass transport application under the city’s Muntinlupa Care Card (MCC) Program.

The MMC Program is a partnership between The Lingkod Muntinlupa Foundation (LMF) and the Muntinlupa City government. It is project of Mayor Jimmy R. Fresnedi that aims to provide all Muntinlupa City residents easy and convenient access to all programs and services of the City Government. The recipients are given smart cards that enable the organization of data to allow the local government to monitor program availment by members and help improve the delivery of basic services. However, membership to the MCC Program is voluntary.

In its mass transport program called e-Jeepney Ride for Free (eJRF), LMF offers free EJeepney rides to students and senior citizens who are MCC program members. Of the 14 EJeepneys in its fleet, it will assign two eJRFs exclusively to Ayala Alabang at no cost to Barangay Ayala Alabang. However, in return, Barangay Ayala Alabang will maintain and operate the eJRFs. ​ Rommel Juan, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines says that EVAP is glad that Muntinlupa City is giving its Environmental Protection advocacy a greater push. “We hope that their EV fleet continues to grow even more and that other cities will follow suit. They already have the operations template that can be replicated by other LGUs”.

OSMUN Director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac accepted the donation from Atty. Camille Alcaraz of LMF on the hospital's behalf. The supplies donated by LMF will help OSMUN in its goal to further enhance its services and accommodate more patients.

THE CITY of Muntinlupa has ordered 10 electric jeepneys for a fleet of vehicles that will be deployed in a free-ride program between two commercial centers, the Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said.

EVAP said the city’s electric-Jeepney Ride for Free (e-JRF) -- will shuttle passengers between Starmall to South Station and vice versa.

Commuters holding the Muntinlupa Care Card are eligible to use the service.

“This Care Card hopes to have every program of the local government accessible to every member of the Muntinlupeño family,” Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi said in the statement.

Sales manager John Marasigan of the jeepneys’ supplier, PhUV, Inc. said: “Muntinlupa truly exemplifies a progressive city which is willing to make a difference by sustaining the environment and protecting the health of its constituents.”

“With e-Jeepneys plying Muntinlupa, pollution will be reduced and the riding public will have access to a cleaner and modern mode of transport. We hope other cities will follow suit,” he added.

EVAP said PhUV is the pioneer in the local assembly of electric vehicles in the Philippines.

By end-2015, almost 40,000 electric vehicles are expected to be on Philippine roads, it said.

The group also noted that many financing firms are already supporting EVs, which seems to be the latest trend in the country’s public transportation sector.

In January 2014, BPI Globe BanKO signed an agreement with the local government of Malay in Aklan and Gerweiss Motors Corp. to grant loans for electric tricycles, replacing Boracay Island’s 536 conventionally-powered tricycles.

The Development Bank of the Philippines is also offering a Green Vehicles loan. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano

Residents of Muntinlupa can now avail of exclusive benefits through the Muntinlupa Care Card (MCC), which was recently launched by City Mayor Jimmy R. Fresnedi. "We hope that through [this smartcard], we can provide each and every member of the Muntinlupeño family easy and convenient access to all programs of the local government," he said.

Color-coded cards for different age groups

The advantages of being an MCC cardholder include: 25 to 75%* hospital subsidy at the local health institution Ospital ng Muntinlupa; free insurance for accidental death and disablement, motorcycling accident, and permanent total disability; free ride in the city's electronic jeepney or e-JRF (electronic-Jeepney Ride for Free); and easy access to other city programs.

According to Engineer Allan Cachuela, the MCC is the first care card among all the LGUs (local government units) in the country. The smartcard uses highly secure card technology to organize data. It can be tapped or swiped into card readers resulting to faster and more organized transactions.

Engr. Allan Cachuela

Fresnedi added, "We want to have a dependable medium and cutting-edge card technology to boost and improve the [Muntinlupa's] programs."

The city government launches a program that gives residents health insurance, free rides, and other services in just one tap or swipe of a smart card.

SIGNING UP. Residents sign up for the Muntinlupa Care Card, which will give them faster access to the city's services. Photo courtesy of Lingkod Muntinlupa Foundation

MANILA, Philippines – With one tap or swipe, residents of Muntinlupa City can expect access to health insurance, free rides, and other services of the city government with the launch of the Muntinlupa Care Card (MCC).

More than a hundred people flocked to the city hall on Monday, April 27, to sign up for the program, which is open to Muntinlupa residents aged 7 and up.

"We hope that through the Muntinlupa Care Card, we can provide each and every member of the Muntinlupeño family easy and convenient access to all programs of the local government," city mayor Jaime Fresnedi said.

With the MCC, cardholders get accident insurance coverage, subsidies of up to P25,000 at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa, and access to free services offered in the barangays. They also get to ride the city's newly-launched e-jeepney for free.​Fresnedi also touted the program's smart card technology, which allows users to simply tap or swipe the card for faster transactions at the city hall and the public hospital, removing the need to bring additional documents for identification.

​The Muntinlupa Care Card (MCC), a smartcard exclusive for Muntinlupa residents that can be used to access the local government’s services, was recently launched by Muntinlupa Mayor Jimmy R. Fresnedi.

There are three kinds of MCC: Red Card for senior citizens, Yellow Card for ages 18 to 59, and Blue Card for 7 to 17 years old.

“We hope that through the Muntinlupa Care Card, we can provide each and every member of the Muntinlupeňo family easy and convenient access to all programs of the local government,” said Fresnedi.

MCC cardholders can enjoy an array of exclusive benefits including: 25 to 75%* hospital subsidy at the local health institution Ospital ng Muntinlupa; free insurance for accidental death and disablement, motorcycling accident, and permanent total total disability; free ride in the city’s electronic jeepney or e-JRF (electronic-Jeepney Ride for Free); and easy access to other city programs.

Moreover, the MCC pioneers in using smartcard technology among local government units in the country. Smartcard uses highly secure card technology to organize data. The card can be tapped or swiped into card readers resulting to faster and more organized transactions.

“We want to have a dependable medium and cutting-edge card technology to boost and improve the local government’s programs,” added Fresnedi.

To register for the MCC, Muntinlupa residents simply have to attend the registration event in their barangay, present one valid ID and pay the card registration fee of P60 for Red Card, P80 for Yellow Card and P75 for Blue Card. For Blue Card application, the parent or guardian must enroll the minor applicant. Card membership is valid for one year, after which the card must be renewed yearly for only P20.

The barangay registration caravan for MCC started last March 1 and will continue until end of the year. Registration booths will also soon be stationed at the Muntinlupa City Hall and Ospital ng Muntinlupa.​The Muntinlupa Care Card is a partnership between the City Government of Muntinlupa and Lingkod Muntinlupa Foundation. To know how to apply for the Muntinlupa Care Card and other details, simply visit www.yanangmuntinlupa.com

MANILA, Philippines—Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has introduced the Muntinlupa Care Card, which entitles residents to various programs and services offered by the city government.

Among other benefits, cardholders can avail of free electronic jeepney rides, accidental death insurance and a subsidy should they be confined at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun).

Other privileges are access to Kalingang Munti, a civic program where residents can avail of free birth registration, haircut, foot spa, dental services and even free pet vaccination. There are also Community and Development Office programs, scholarships, livelihood and employment services they can apply for.

There are three types of Muntinlupa Care Card: the Red Card for senior citizens, the Yellow Card for individuals between 18 to 59 years old and the Blue Card for those aged 7 to 17.Fresnedi said that residents could enroll in the program by filling out an application form and presenting it together with a valid identification card. The registration fees are P60 for the red card, P80 for the blue card and P75 for the blue card.

The city government said that it would soon set up registration booths in each barangay to accommodate interested residents.​According to Muntinlupa People’s Coordinating Office representative Grace Salvador, the city is the first to use smart card technology among local government units nationwide.- Maricar B. Brizuela